Toilet supply diverter for preheating bathing water

ABSTRACT

This invention facilitates the dispensing of preheated water at a sink or shower by repurposing the latent cold water within the hot water supply line of a sink to fill the tank of a nearby toilet.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

No federal sponsorship contributed to the research or development of this invention.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

This application is not part of a join research agreement.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

The patent does not contain a lengthy “Sequence Listing” section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hot water heaters are at times installed a great distance from the sink at which the hot water is needed. That distance represents a significant quantity of latent cold water that must be dispensed prior to receiving the heated water.

Particularly in preparation for taking a shower people often allow a significant quantity of water to flow immediately down the drain simply to receive hot water for bathing.

The reason for this invention is to repurpose that water for another necessary activity.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When a toilet is in convenient proximity to a sink this invention switches, at the discretion of the user, the water source used to fill the toilet tank from its normal cold water supply to the hot water supply of the sink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1—Conceptual drawing of the invention

-   -   A. Toilet Cold Water Supply     -   B. Sink Hot Water Supply     -   C. Toilet Tank     -   D. Sink     -   E. Controller     -   F. Diverter Mechanism     -   G. Tee Connector

FIG. 2—Diverter mechanism

-   -   A. Toilet Cold Water Supply     -   B. Sink Hot Water Supply     -   C. Inlet of Toilet Tank     -   D. Spring     -   E. Ball valve to open sink hot water supply (In its closed/rest         position)     -   F. Ball valve to close toilet hot water supply (In its open/rest         position)     -   G. Cable

FIG. 3—Controller

-   -   A. Original Toilet Handle in rest position     -   B. Controller extended following key (E) in bracket (D)     -   C. Cable extended to close toilet cold water valve and open sink         hot water     -   D. Bracket attached to toilet tank     -   E. Key that controller handle must follow as it moves between         positions (B) and (F)     -   F. Controller retracted to its rest position where the toilet         cold water is open and the sink hot water is closed     -   G. Original Toilet Handle in flush position     -   H. Cable retracted to open toilet cold water and close sink hot         water.

FIG. 4—Bracket keyed slot

-   -   A. Rest position where toilet cold water is on and sink hot         water is off.     -   B. Locked position where toilet cold water is off and sink hot         water is on.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Immediately following the normal flushing of the toilet the invention is quickly engaged by the user to begin using the sink's hot water supply B (FIG. 1) through tee connector G (FIG. 1) to fill the toilet's tank C (FIG. 1). The diverter mechanism F (FIG. 1) is engaged by extending controller E (FIG. 1) from its rest position F (FIG. 3) to its engaged position B (FIG. 3). When the controller is extended it pulls cable C (FIG.3) which is cable G (FIG. 2) which opens sink hot water supply B (FIG. 2) and closes toilet cold water supply A (FIG. 2) by closing ball value F (FIG. 2) and opening ball value E (FIG. 2). This diverts the latent cold water in the sink hot water supply line B (FIG. 1) to the toilet tank C (FIG. 1) through the inlet of the toilet tank C (FIG. 2). Diverting that water permits hot water to be received sooner than normal at sink D (FIG. 1).

The invention also prevents the user from flushing the toilet a second time without disengaging the invention thus preventing the inadvertent waste of hot water at the toilets next use. The extended controller E (FIG. 1) traveled through key E (FIG. 3) which is part of bracket D (FIG. 3) that is attached to the toilet tank C (FIG. 1) in such a way that the toilet handle must remain in its rest position A (FIG. 3). It traveled from the rest position A (FIG. 4) to engaged and locked position B (FIG. 4) of key E (FIG. 3). When the user attempts to flush the toilet next its handle A (FIG. 3) is physically blocked from moving to its engaged position G (FIG. 3) by the controller's extended position B (FIG. 3). The user must disengage the controller by moving it from its engaged position B (FIG. 3) to its rest position F (FIG. 3). When this is done spring D (FIG. 2) retracts cable G (FIG. 2) which is cable H (FIG. 3). This moves ball value F (FIG. 2) to its open position and ball value E (FIG. 2) to its closed position to begin supplying the toilet tank C (FIG. 1) from its own cold water supply line A (FIG. 2).

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

SEQUENCE LISTING

There is no sequence listing as part of this application. 

1. The repurposing of the latent cold water within a sink's hot water supply line to fill a nearby the toilet tank so that a user may quickly receive hot water at a sink or nearby shower. 